Systems Engineer, Space Infrastructure

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

18h

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership and end‑to‑end ownership of space system definition and analysis. This role is responsible for defining system architectures, owning technical budgets, and leading requirements development across the full system lifecycle. The Systems Engineer serves as a central technical authority, integrating subsystem teams, guiding system trade studies, and ensuring disciplined execution of requirements, analyses, and verification planning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
10+ years experience in systems engineering supporting complex space or aerospace systems
Proven experience owning and managing space system technical budgets and analyses
Demonstrated expertise in writing and controlling system level requirements and specifications
Strong command of systems engineering processes across the full development lifecycle
Ability to independently define complex problems, drive solutions, and influence technical outcomes without direct authority
Excellent technical communication skills, including senior level design and risk discussions

Nice To Haves

Deep experience with space system architectures and subsystem integration
Familiarity with model‑based systems engineering and requirements management tools
Background in high‑reliability, mission‑critical system development
Ability to balance technical rigor with programmatic constraints
A systems‑level mindset with strong attention to margins, interfaces, and verification closure

Responsibilities

Own end‑to‑end space system technical budgets, including mass, power, data, performance, margins, and system constraints
Lead space system architecture definition and technical trade studies to guide design decisions
Develop, author, and maintain system‑level technical artifacts including SRDs, TRDs, and related specifications
Drive requirements decomposition, allocation, and requirements burndown across all subsystems
Ensure traceability between mission objectives, system requirements, subsystem designs, and verification plans
Provide technical leadership across cross‑functional engineering teams to resolve system‑level issues and interfaces
Lead system participation in major lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, readiness reviews)
Define system‑level verification and validation strategies in partnership with integration and test teams
Identify, assess, and manage system‑level risks, assumptions, and margin posture
Produce clear, concise technical documentation and briefings to support engineering and leadership decision‑making
Mentor other systems engineers and contribute to improving systems engineering practices and standards